Utah Jazz Notes: Spida scoots through SLC, Hayward’s odd request and more

It may be the NBA’s slow time, but there’s been plenty of news lately to keep Utah Jazz fans entertained as they await the season’s start.

Make no mistake about it, August is a tough month for die-hard NBA fans. Summer League has long been over, free agency is essentially at an end and the start of the regular season is still just over two months away.

Fortunately, the full NBA schedule is set to be released on Friday, and Utah Jazz fans got some nice news earlier this week about being selected to play on national TV on both opening weekend and Christmas Day. Those little tidbits of excitement will help make August a little brighter as we anxiously await the start of the 2018-19 season.

There’s also been some interesting news that may specifically be of interest to Jazz fans in recent days. So let’s check in on what’s been brewing around Jazz Nation.

Spida cruises the streets of SLC on a scooter

Donovan Mitchell is one rad dude. He’s proved that about a million times over.

Well, make it a million and one after checking out this picture below–

There are few things more righteous than an NBA player cruising around the streets of his adopted hometown on a scooter. Yet that’s exactly what Mitchell was caught doing on Thursday.

Hopefully he keeps his eyes peeled for potential poor drivers (seriously, though, what is it with Utah drivers and not using a blinker?!) and remains safe and sound as he enjoys the summer days on his stylish two-wheeled ride.

Jazz favorites in Christmas Day game

It was huge news to see the Jazz not only playing in this year’s December 25th slate, but also hosting a game on one of the biggest nights of the NBA season. But the good news doesn’t end there. While preseason predictions are spotty at best, it’s nice to know that the Jazz are currently favorites in their holiday contest against the Portland Trail Blazers.

As you can see in the tweet below from Westgate Las Vegas Superbook Manager Jeff Sherman, the Jazz stand as 5.5-point favorites for the Christmas Day bout.

A lot could change between now and December 25th, but it’s nice to know the Jazz are favored to win at this point against a talented Blazers squad on an enormous stage.

Hayward’s odd request

Gordon Hayward and his wife Robyn recently posted an odd video on social media of the gender reveal for their next child. When it was revealed that it would be yet another girl, Gordon was…less than excited. In his disappointment, he stated a hilariously awkward phrase. After being asked if he was happy with the gender of the baby, he replied by stating in monotone fashion, “Daddy’s always happy.”

Check it out for yourself below, because my words just can’t do it justice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlCJhnKAJNs/

The video and Hayward’s statement went viral and it appears that he is simply owning it. In a recent Fortnite stream on Twitch that he put on, Hayward had the following to say to his viewers–

"“If any of you guys are gonna go to the games at TD Garden, you gotta get a ‘daddy’s always happy’ chant going. That would be awesome.”"

I imagine he was being sarcastic…I think… Honestly, I’m not sure. We all know how hard it can be to read the overly expressive (sarcasm) Hayward.

Either way, joke or not, it was a bit of an odd request. I don’t see that being a chant that rolls off the tongue, or one that ends up being that popular with fans. But good for Hayward being a good sport, I guess.

On the flip side, when the Boston Celtics come to Salt Lake City to play the Jazz this next season, don’t be surprised if some comical renditions of “Daddy’s always happy” get thrown around in hilarious fashion.

Grayson Allen appears in film with Matt Barnes and Earl Watson

Utah Jazz draft selection Grayson Allen recently got the cool opportunity to participate in a learning session from NBA vets Matt Barnes and former Jazzman Earl Watson. This was part of a series put on by Officialize and was the second episode in which Allen made an appearance. Prior to the draft, he and Devonte Graham sat down for a film breakdown with Barnes.

You can check out both clips via the link in the tweet below–

It’s cool to see Allen getting some up close and personal time with two experienced NBA talents. Barnes wasn’t exactly a fan favorite in Utah, but his scrappy personality very much mirrors that of Allen. Meanwhile, Watson is a brilliant basketball mind who was beloved in Salt Lake City, so any wisdom he’s able to impart on Allen will be much appreciated.

There’s enough going on to keep the dog days of summer relatively interesting for Utah Jazz fans, and we’re quickly nearing the two-month mark for the start of the regular season.